Free Family Over Everything by Paige Green Page B

Sighing, she began to tap her foot impatiently.
    Mercedes, who was dressed in a pair of ripped-up jeans, a faded black shirt, and torn tennis shoes, sat in the seat, shaking her leg, glancing around the room, and running her fingers through her hair.
    â€œWe’re sorry, sir. Please let us go. We promise we won’t do it again!” she begged, a single tear trickling down her cheek.
    â€œI’m sorry, young ladies, but if you do the crime, you must do the time.” He shrugged.
    Twenty minutes later, when a policeman finally arrived, he placed both Corrine and Mercedes in handcuffs before stuffing them into the back of his car.
    Feeling humiliated and gripped with embarrassment, tears continued to escape from Mercedes’ eyes throughout the entire ride. When they pulled into the parking lot at the police station,they stepped out of the car and entered into the building. Corrine shrugged as she took a seat and waited patiently for their next punishment.
    â€œWhat are your names?” a policewoman, Officer Williams, asked, taking a seat in front of the two girls.
    â€œMer . . .mer . . .cedes,” she stammered.
    Corrine, who had her arms folded under her breasts, rolled her eyes and glanced at Mercedes.
    â€œOkay, Ms. Mercedes, and what is your name?” Officer Williams asked, looking at Corrine.
    â€œWhy the fuck you want to know?” Corrine asked.
    Officer Williams, a beautiful black woman who wore her hair shortly cropped and had an aura as soft as an angel, stared at Corrine, shaking her head in pity. She already knew their names because they had been printed and run through the system. She was simply trying to make conversation and get them to open up.
    Working in her profession for the past five years of her life, she had seen many at-risk teenagers that emulated the ones currently in front of her. Instead of going off and yelling in their faces like the other female officers would’ve, she remained calm.
    She looked Corrine directly into her eyes. “Sweetie, all I want to know is your name. Why all the hostility? I’m here to help you get out of this little sticky situation you two got yourselves into. I can tell them to send you up to Shuman Detention Center for theft and you’d be fined for stealing over three hundred dollars’ worth of food, but, instead, I’m going to be nice. So, if you want my help, all I ask for you is to be respectful and honest and I’ll return the love.”
    Corrine exhaled loudly, rolled her eyes, and started tapping her feet again.
    â€œOkay, Ms. Thang, let’s try this again. But this time, I want youto cut the attitude and look me directly into my eyes and tell me your name,” Officer Williams said firmly.
    Unfolding her arms from her chest and staring Officer Williams directly in her eyes, Corrine snottily said, “My name is Corrine. Are you fucking happy now?”
    Shaking her head in disbelief, Officer Williams made a mental note to check her for her profanity later. Deciding to leave the situation alone for now, she flipped through Mercedes’ and Corrine’s records she’d retrieved moments ago. Taking heed of the petty theft charges from not only stealing groceries, but clothes as well, she silently set their folders down.
    She scanned their worn-out clothing, knowing they had to be doing what they were doing to survive.
    I know the feeling , she thought, standing to her feet.
    â€œOkay, we called your foster care mother, Rachael, and she’ll be here to pick you two up any minute now.”
    â€œYou told Rachael on us?” Mercedes asked, shifting in her chair.
    Noticing the fear in her eyes, Officer Williams sat back down and took her by the hand.
    â€œYes, we had to, sweetie. Why were y’all out there stealing food when she provides it at the foster home?”
    Snatching her hand away from her, tears streamed down Mercedes’ cheeks as fear gripped